Stop kitten experiments at Cardiff University

We've discovered that shocking experiments on kittens have taken place at Cardiff University.

Some kittens were raised in complete darkness while others were deprived of the sight in one eye by having their eyelids sewn shut. The kittens were then anaesthetised, artificially ventilated and paralysed with a drug to prevent eye movements. They were then subjected to highly invasive head surgery during which the skin was cut away, the skull was opened and the brain was exposed for recordings.

After various tests, all the kittens were killed and parts of their brain removed for analysis.

Sophisticated methods of studying vision and the neurologic processes underlying it in human beings already exist. Not only is this experiment inhumane, it is unnecessary for human health.

Ricky Gervais has joined the BUAV in calling for an end to these experiments: “I am appalled that kittens are being deprived of sight in one eye by having their eyelids sewn shut. I thought sickening experiments like these were a thing of the past. I support the BUAV in calling for this research to be stopped.”

Please join us in calling for Cardiff University to end these sickening experiments on kittens and cats.

I am writing to express my concern following the recent media coverage of experiments carried out at the University on cats and kittens. One experiment involved a group of kittens raised in complete darkness from birth for periods of up to 12 weeks while others were deprived of the sight in one eye by having their eyelids sewn shut. Under anaesthesia, artificially ventilated and injected with a drug to paralyse eye movements, the kittens were subjected to highly invasive head surgery during which the skin was cut away, the skull was opened and the brain was exposed for recordings. Following tests, the animals were killed and parts of their brains removed for analysis.

Research of this nature raises strong ethical concerns as well as questions of scientific validity. There are substantial differences in structure and function of the visual system in cats versus human beings. Sophisticated methods of studying vision and the neurologic processes underlying it in human beings already exist. Not only are your studies inhumane, they are unnecessary for human health.

At a time when there is increasing public awareness and growing concern surrounding animal research, I find it unacceptable for kittens to be used in these experiments. This experiment was publicly funded by the Medical Research Council and it is important that academic institutions, such as Cardiff University, are held accountable for the pain and suffering they inflict on animals.

I urge the Council of the University of Cardiff to end all experiments on cats and kittens.